Juan Atkins & Moritz von Oswald
US/DE

Two of techno’s most esteemed pioneers, Juan Atkins and Moritz von Oswald occupy important positions along the Detroit/Berlin axis, each laying the blueprint for their respective city’s sound. Juan Atkins was among those inventing techno in the ‘80s – with his futuristic work under the Model 500 and Cybotron monikers, and as one third of the Motor City’s mythical Belleville Three (with Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May). Enigmatic electronic music figure, Moritz von Oswald shaped the sound of ‘90s Berlin with his penchant for minimalism, ephemeral rhythms and meticulous engineering. His reach extends beyond his trademark dub-inflected soundscapes thanks to countless other configurations (Basic Channel, Maurizio and The Moritz Oswald Trio). Although Atkins and von Oswald have collaborated in the past – Atkins has joined von Oswald and Thomas Fehlmann in their 3MB project, while von Oswald served as engineer on a number of Atkins’ releases as Model 500 – the Borderland project finally sees these inestimable legends join forces. With a forthcoming LP slated for summer release on Tresor, Borderland’s live performance seamlessly blends von Oswald’s dub and minimal sensibilities with Atkins’ looped and layered rhythms. This world premiere at MUTEK’s closing Nocturne celebrates the inspired experimentations of two electronic pillars.